Welcome to my zone 9 garden. My roots are deeply planted in the sandy soil of sub-tropical central Florida, where the summers are long and hot, but the rest of the year is paradise!

Friday, February 29, 2008

One Last Hurrah!


The last two mornings were in the upper 30's. Hopefully this will be the last "very" cold weather we receive this winter, as spring is in the air for us. Everything is popping out and I am eager to get out in the yard and begin the spring ritual of trimming, fertilizing, planting and enjoying some "perfect spring weather."

More Azaleas!




The azaleas are still blooming away, although it is quickly approaching the end. I hate to see them go, as they are so colorful and cheerful!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day

Azaleas are the quintessential southern spring flower.

They signal the start of spring in my zone 9 garden, and come in hues of bright fuschia, white, violet, sunset orange, red, and hot pink to name a few. When I was a kid, there wasn't a yard that didn't have at least a handful of azaleas scattered around. Many had the giant 7 foot tall Formosa varieties that were covered in blooms. But now, you see fewer and fewer as professional landscapers fail to add this southern staple to new yards. Happy Valentine's Day to all of the Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day bloggers!

A Breath of Fresh Air

It was a dreary day as I sat working on the computer, when all of a sudden the sun popped out. I glanced out the window for a look, and there it was - a splash of spring green reflecting the sunlight. My neighbor's Laurel oak was awash in brand new leaves. I couldn't believe it! I jumped up to check on our tree but it was still in the process with teensy little baby leaves just beginning to pop out. I was amazed at how quietly and quickly the tree had transformed itself from winter to spring. It is the "star" of the neighborhood, as it is the first to announce spring is arriving.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

A Magical Discovery

My daughter and I were walking in the woods behind our home when we happened upon seven zebra longwing butterflies hanging from an oak branch. They were folded up flat and blended in so well that it is amazing that she saw them. It was a dreary day and the woods were dark from the thick canopy, and they seemed to be napping. At first we thought they had just hatched from their cocoons, but we couldn't find any remnants of them.



We startled them and they began to flutter all around us. I tried to snap a photo of them but it was impossible to see them in flight, so I settled for the one below as he settled back on the oak limb. We were totally delighted with our magical discovery.





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